"Regarding the PlayStation 3, it is not our wish to release a simple conversion of the Windows version in its current state, but rather an update that includes all the improvements we have planned," said president Yoichi Wada.

"For that reason, we have made the difficult decision to delay the release of the PlayStation 3 version beyond the originally announced date of March 2011."

The game's new producer Naoki Yoshida added: "The PlayStation 3 release will be delayed until we are confident that the game has reached the level of enjoyability and service befitting the Final Fantasy name for users on all supported platforms.

"We offer our sincerest apologies to any fans anticipating the PlayStation 3 release, and humbly ask for your continued patience and understanding as both the development team and Square Enix as a whole strive towards making Final Fantasy XIV a truly enjoyable and unforgettable adventure."